Protocol development in integrative medicine is not typically a simple process. Individuals require individualized care, and what works for one patient may not work for another.
To establish these protocols, we first developed a Rating Scale that could be used to discern the rigor of evidence supporting a specific nutrient’s therapeutic effect.
The following protocols were developed using only A through B-quality evidence.
A
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
B
RDBPC human trials
2+ studies and/or 1 study with 50 + subjects
Berberine
500 mg, three times per day, minimum 3 months
- Reductions in total testosterone, free androgen index, fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, and increases in SHBG.1
- Decreases in BMI, lipid parameters and total FSH requirement, and an increase in live birth rate with fewer gastrointestinal adverse events.1
- Decrease the waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and sex hormone-binding globulin.2
1 g, twice per day, minimum 6 months
- Improved the regularity of the menstrual cycle, the Acne Score, the endocrine and metabolic parameters and the insulin-resistance 3
- Effective in improving ovarian function and metabolism in patients with PCOS, and reduced hyperandrogenism better 4
Myo-inositol
1 g, twice per day, minimum 6 months
- Significantly decreased serum total testosterone, modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mF-G) scores and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels5
- Meta-analysis demonstrates that myo-inositol improves HOMA index and increases the E2 (estradiol) level6
Chromium picolinate
200 µg, per day, minimum 8 weeks
- Demonstrated significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, insulin levels, homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance, and a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index 7
- Significantly decreased serum triglycerides, VLDL and total cholesterol concentrations
- Contributes to increases in plasma total antioxidant capacity and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde values 7
- Overall reduction in BMI and free testosterone concentration 8
Disclaimer
The Fullscript Integrative Medical Advisory team has developed or collected these protocols from practitioners and supplier partners to help health care practitioners make decisions when building treatment plans. By adding this protocol to your Fullscript template library, you understand and accept that the recommendations in the protocol are for initial guidance and may not be appropriate for every patient.
Upload templateReferences
1
RDBPC human trials
b
3
RDBPC human trials
b
6
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
a
7
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
a
8
Systematic review or meta-analysis of human trials
a
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